A Houston Police officer was grazed by a bullet fragment while executing a narcotic search warrant near downtown Thursday evening. Officers were attempting to enter a home at 1700 Quitman near Hardy when a pitbull, who HPD spokesman John Chomiak said was "used to protect the house" lunged at officers.

They fired on the dog, killing it. A female officer's leg was bruised by a round that ricocheted during the incident.

"It did not break the skin," Chomiak said.

The officer, a 15-year-veteran assigned to Central Patrol, was taken to a hospital by patrol car and later released.